Sitharaman unveils Rs 1.7 lakh crore package for poor amid Covid-19 crisis

Sitharaman unveils Rs 1.7 lakh crore package for poor amid Covid-19 crisis

To address the immediate economic distress in the wake of the lockdown prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and ensure food and cash reaches the marginalised segments of society, the government announced a ₹1,70,000 crore package, under a new scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana (PMGKBY), on Thursday. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, at a press […]

Friday prayers suspended across country amid lockdown

Friday prayers suspended across country amid lockdown

All Muslim sects have suspended Friday prayers to abide by the government’s decision of complete lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, however the call for prayers will continue in the mosques. Jamaat-e-Islami Sharia Council said in a statement that, “the Friday prayer (Juma namaz) should also be observed (only by Imam, Muezzin, Khadim, and […]

Social distancing at Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Modi

Social distancing at Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Modi

Social distancing was evident in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The Cabinet meeting held at Lok Kalyan Marg comes a day after PM Modi announced a complete lockdown across the country for the next three weeks and urged Indians to practice social distancing to combat coronavirus pandemic. Senior ministers were present at the meeting […]

Use hydroxychloroquine with caution: ICMR warns amid confusion over use of drug for Covid-19

Use hydroxychloroquine with caution: ICMR warns amid confusion over use of drug for Covid-19

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Tuesday warned against an inordinate use of hydroxychloroquine, just a day after the apex research body issued an advisory on using it as a preventive drug against the novel coronavirus. At an ICMR press meet, its epidemiology head Dr Raman Gangakhedkar called the usage of the anti-malarial drug as […]

PM announces complete lockdown in India for next 21 days

PM announces complete lockdown in India for next 21 days

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday announced a complete lockdown across the country for three weeks starting from midnight tonight to stave off the menace of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “In the view of the current situation, the nationwide complete lockdown will be in place for 21 days,” the Prime Minister declared in his second address to the nation in a […]

No fee for ATM withdrawals from any bank: FM

No fee for ATM withdrawals from any bank: FM

Debit card holders will no longer need to pay extra charges while doing a transaction at any ATM for the next three months, said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday. While addressing the media, she also said that there shall not be any minimum balance requirement fee (in bank accounts). Earlier, the finance minister […]